Investigating on the Residue of Organophosphate Pesticides in the Rice, Soil and Water and Associated Health Risks for Human: A Case Study in Rasht, Iran

Abstract

Organic phosphorus compounds are one of the most important groups of chemical pesticides. Organic phosphorus has been used by humans for many years because of its advantages in protecting agriculture and livestock. Pesticide contamination in surface water, particularly through the agricultural use of pesticides, is a worldwide problem. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the effects of this pesticide on the environment from an ecotoxicological point of view on humans and other organisms. The environment is mainly contaminated with pesticides through the their use in agricultural products, and surface water is usually contaminated through runoff, the release of water containing pesticides from agricultural lands. Therefore, when these waters are used for drinking and agriculture, it becomes a special issue. In this research, the rate of absorption of ten types of pesticides in rice fields of ten regions in the paddy fields of northern Iran was evaluated at three levels: soil, rice and water. In the environmental toxicology risk assessment, it was determined that diazinon and fenitrothion pose severe risks to the aquatic environment, but chlorpyrifos and malathion have moderate risks. Long-term use of organophosphate pesticides may be dangerous for aquatic environments. These risks should be re-evaluated periodically.